Finger-tapering device



(No Model!) Y E. R. PAIGE.

FINGER TAPERIN'G DEVICE. I No. 478,356. Patented JuIy 5, 18912.

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ELAM R. PAIGE, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

FING ER-TAPERI NG DEVICE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 478,356, dated July 5,1892.

Application filed February 6, 1892. Serial No. 420,549- (No model.)

zen of the United States, residing at Chicago,

in the county of Cook and State of Illinois,

have invented new and useful Improvements in Finger-Tapering Devices, ofwhich the following is a specification.

My invention relates to surgical devices known in the art asfinger-tapering devices, arid it has for its object the shaping andrectifying the malformations of human fingers. I attain these objects bythe devices herein shown and described, and more particularly pointedout in the drawings accompanying this specification,in which likeletters of referencedesignate similar parts in the several figures ofthe drawings.

Figure 1 represents a human hand with two varieties of finger-taperingdevices upon the fingers thereof. Fig. 2 represents a sectional view ofmy tapering device upon the lines a: 00, Fig. 3, with a finger placedtherein. Fig. 3 represents a vertical sectional view of my device uponthe lines y y, Fig. 1, with a finger placed therein.

There are numerous avocations in life,pro-

fessions, or occupati0nssuch, for instance,-

as piano-playing, type-writing, &c.in the exercise of which the fingersbecome more or less blunted and out of shape. Many persons have thesemalformations naturally. In order to preserve the rounded and taperingcontour of the fingers and reform those which by nature or employmentare out of proper shape, I have devised and invented a device which Iwillproceed to describe.

I have found that a finger-tapering device which is purelyconical ortapers upon all sides equally toward a common point or apex will notproduce successful results, and, besides, tends to produce inflammationabout the sides and roots of the nail, and also to bend or change theproper shape and configuration of the nail. To avoid this, I haveinvented a finger-tapering device which in its general shape istapering, but wherein the upper portion or side which passesover thenail and upper part of the finger is straight,or nearly so, while ittapers upon the remaining sides gradually, the greatest tapering beingon the under side of the device, so as to accommodate itself to the ballof the finger. I

Letter A represents the general form of my device, asshown in Figs. 1and 2.

B represents a space in the device cut outv of the upper and front partof the device immediately over and above the location of the nail of thefinger when the finger is inserted. (See tne thumb-letter A, Fig. 1, andletter B, Fig. 3.

0 represents the under side of the device, where the tapering angle isgreatest, and D represents the rear part of the device, where it may bemade to assume a cylindrical form for a very short distance; but this isnot essential to my invention, though it may be somewhat useful inholding the device in place upon the finger.

It is well known that in the use of cotts and finger-tapering deviceswhich are elastic or in figure and conformation are not properlyadjustedto the normal and proper shape of the finger the nail of the finger isbent and inflammation at its side and root superinduced.

To avoid this,I prefer to cut out of the top or upper portion of thefront end of my device a part thereof, leaving an opening immediatelyover and above the position occupied by the nail of the finger wheninserted in said device, whereby the form and direction of the nail isleft in normal position and air may find its way into the front of saiddevice, tending to prevent inflammation.

It is well'known that the treatment forreforming the shape of thefingers, limbs, 850., must be gradual and the confininginstrumentalities must be inelastic, or nearly so, in order that thereforming maybe made step by step without unnecessary pressure,producing pain and inflammation. In actual op- 0 eration myfinger-tapering devices are first placed upon the fingers, which arepressed therein only far enough to produce a slight pressure upon theparts of the fingert-o be affected. Gradually as the reduction or changein form results the device is pressed farther and farther upon thefinger until the change in form is complete. Of course such treatmentwill naturally be adopted and applied during the night, when theindividual is most I00 quiet and has no occasion to use his or herhands.

It is evident that there may be some slight change from the form andarrangement of my device without departing from the spirit of myinvention. Thus I have shown and described the upper portion of mydevice,which is intended to pass upon and over the upper part of thefinger and the nail as being practically straight, as shown in Fig. 3.Evidently this portion might curve upwardly slightly or vary from astraight line Without changing the function or operation. .So, also,itmight vary somewhat in other directions.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire tosecure by Letters Patent of the United States, is-

1. A finger-tapering device made of rigid material, constructed of anopen sheath to be fitted upon the finger, the section thereof at theopen end cylindrical and thence tapering opening in such upper side orportion near the end thereof and the greatest tapering being on theunder or lower side or portion of said device, substantially as and forthe purpose set forth.

ELAM R. PAIGE. Witnesses:

J. LAWRENCE GERRY, lVIARY R. CLARKE.

